Congratulations on your A SimonI haven't had much chance to fly recently as it's been a busy few weeks I'm really hoping to get out this weekend I'm still awaiting maiden of my siren I spent some time this weekend converting a little chuck glider to 'hopefully' rc slope soarer (if it flies. It's a 435mm span alpha jet using umx servos and as3x ail rudd elev .. no motor All up weight of 95g .. here's hoping

Winds looking perfect for Thurnham this weekend. At Ivinghoe I guess you'll be on the west slope. Just have to hope the wind is west enough rather than too southerly. I wouldn't fancy flying a vintage rudder-only model in a 45-degree-to-the-slope wind!

Winds looking perfect for Thurnham this weekend. At Ivinghoe I guess you'll be on the west slope. Just have to hope the wind is west enough rather than too southerly. I wouldn't fancy flying a vintage rudder-only model in a 45-degree-to-the-slope wind!

Eric has exhumed the contents of his loft (well about a 10th of it anyway!) to provide me with a model - it even has ailerons! But will it roll.......Paul has dug out (possibly literally) the model that gives him his moniker - Middle Phase and confirmed it has no woodworm - so we're all set - albeit I think you're right the wind direction isn't ideal...

Hi all My apologies if I've placed this announcement under the wrong topic, however........ Due to problems beyond my control, but mainly the weather, I am having to defer this year's ISA Nostalgia Day from tomorrow, Saturday 8th September to the fall-back date of Saturday 15th September. My apologies to all the flyers looking forward to this but, unfortunately you'll have to wait a short lime longer, sorry!I'll be on the Ivinghoe slope on Saturday to explain or apologise to any attendees that didn't see this notice on the ISA website or read the notice to ISA members sent yesterday BTW I'll probably also be at Ivinghoe later today should anyone would like to complain to me in personRegards Pete Beadle Organiser ISA Nostalgia Day

Edit: Change of plan, as the Phase 6 Pro has a symmetrical section and needs a fair blow, I think that I'll visit Thurnham around lunchtime when the wind will be up to about 15 mph, and give the old girl and the MiniPhase, a test fly.

Josh flew well Gary, although he did have a few interesting arrivals, ie, splatted across the fence one time - well done Josh!

My Phase 6 Pro (pictured above - thanks Gary), flew well and it did manage to survive going inadvertently into the 'combat zone' at the bottom of an outside loop which screwed offline. Anyway it's fully tested and ready to fly at the Nostalgia Day next Saturday. Next to test out is the Countryman!

I'm off to the Southern Model Show now to pick up some bit and pieces, but no more models!

HI all . I had another great afternoon on the slope and I was happy with the alpha jet maiden ..after a little.fiddling and some input from the thurnham massive she was airborne .. 'thanks chaps!!' I didn't fly anything else .Had 4 great flights with the little.alpha and enjoyed every second .. I came home with a big grin!Here is a link to the maiden flights if anyone is interestedhttps://youtu.be/Q0uCjWLEqaY

Simon and I had a good session at the Ivinghoe Soaring Association's Nostalgia Day held at Ivinghoe Beacon where about 20 different vintage gliders were flown by a similar number of vintage model fliers.

It was our first visit to the Beacon and were surprised by the distance we had to walk from the car park to the Beacon itself where we were to fly on the west slope in a WSW wind of 10-15 mph. When we parked we could see the Beacon in the distance at least half a mile away and to get to it meant walking down into a valley and then straight up a very steep slope to the top where all the fliers and lots of picnickers and walkers were gathering. An alternate double diagonal route to the top, nicknamed 'The Cardiac Path', was pointed out to me but I manned up to the challenge and took the direct route to the top! My heart bypass grafts served me well!

Ivinghoe Soaring Association has 145 members and we were told that most are active fliers and looking at the terrain that they need to walk across to get to the various slopes on the Beacon, they must all be very fit!

We took along four of my vintage models, all of which were over 35 years old and to be in keeping with the spirit of the day, I flew on 35 megs. Simon put his 2.4 gear in my wooden Algebra, but whatever he did he couldn't get it to roll! As you are all aware, Simon normally only flys aircraft that can roll, and this one wouldn't. I flew the MiniPhase and the Countryman but I had left the Phase 6 Pro in the car and it was just too far to walk back to get it. Simon was pleased that we hadn't taken his 1/3rd scale K6 as it would have been near impossible to get it to the slope.

In all a good day's outing with a very friendly welcome from the ISA guys.

PS - Today I flew my venerable Phase 6 Pro at Thurnham after not being able to fly it yesterday. With its fully symmetrical wing section, it performed perfectly both upright and inverted in the 15-20 mph south westerly blow. There was a good sized group of fliers there today with various people coming and going as the day progressed.

PPS - If you haven't already completed the Government's Drone survey, please do it ASAP as the closing date is Monday 17th September at 23:45hrs - today. The future of model flying in this country as we know it, could be at stake!Thank you.

Just to add to Eric's report - it is not often these days that I am the second youngest in a large group!! Considering the collective age of the group, their ability to scale "Mount Ivinghoe" is more than impressive - I guess if we were to do it regularly we too would get fitter but for the moment I'm happy to stick with our namby-pamby North and South Downs!It was really interesting to see another slope but yet again it does show how blessed we are with Thurnham and Firle et al and their combination of great slopes and excellent landing areas.

Scaling of a similar sized bump was involved, but, alas, without a winged vehicle.

My ability to cycle was tested as I completed the London to Brighton charity bicycle ride in aid of a Robotic Surgery unit, where I work, at Broomfield Hospital.

This was my first time up Ditchling Beacon without my Calypso Contest and a wardrobe of clothing, and it was strange to be there in a Southerly!

My first visit to Ivinghoe was in a "Sit up and beg" Ford Anglia E93A, long before my Dad or I had flown with r/c. There were some big models being relatively successfully flown there in what seemed like a gale at the time, but it was probably only 20-25mph. I was about 50 years younger than I am now, and the memory has turned to monochrome, with a sepia tint!

As such, I have always considered Ivinghoe to be the Mecca of rc slope flying, and it really surprised me that you had never been there before Eric.

I have been to one or two of the nostalgia days and was disappointed that I could not attend this one.

Thanks for telling us of your experiences though (Eric and Simon), please continue to do so!

However, I have flown at notable sites such as the Malvern Hills, Long Mynd, Hole of Horcum, Purbeck Hills, various sites in north, west and south of France, and also at the Torrey Pines Gliderport in southern California.

I couldn't make thurnham on sat as I was making model volcanos with my little girl.for her first school project ..I made a trip on sun and stayed for around an hour and half .. flew my little alpha jet which I'm very happy with https://youtu.be/bM7_UxCkgKg

I have spent this evening fixing the wings on my aquired Victor and also strengthened and straitened the fuzz I need just cover the wings and run the ail servo wires Hopefully will be out Sunday with her weather permitting.

I have never flown a v.tail before so I would be most greatfull if one of the thurnham massive could look over it before I throw it off the hill ..RegardsJeff

As long as the elevators go in the right direction you'll be fine Jeff (I have in the past accidentally had the rudder movement reversed - ask Bob! - and whilst it won't fly well like that it will fly! Obviously the correct way is that if you give it right rudder both elevator halves should go right. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the subtleties of differential etc

Ivinghoe has a big catchment area - it's the best place for miles around - and it has the major advantage of having slopes facing various directions. But it's not the South Downs. Those are world class. Remember how amazed the Germans were by the South Downs?

Thanks for the rapid advise Simon and PaulI have spent this evening working on the Victor I'm pretty pleased with how she is turning out in comparison to the condition she was in when I first took hold I have decided to replace all the electronics ..the rud and elev servos don't match and the rods are set on different throw's(No wonder she was a wreck) Hopefully will be complete by Friday evening so I can tempt my luck on the weekend ..hoping for a good windFairly excited to be perfectly honest First moldy maiden + first V tail

gp where these the germans that had come over 3 weeks travelling to wales and back if so met them at long man hill on their way back to dover told them about thurnham etc not sure if got there as wind was wrong way seemed like nice guys and flew some good models or am i totally wrong

Yes, they came annually for several years. May still be coming, although I haven't seen them lately. They brought very fancy planes and flew at various places on the south downs. I remember they commented that UK flyers are welcoming, in contrast to German flyers who are often not. As I understand it, Germany has alps with thermals but no clear wind path (other alps in the way), so they have to milk thermals. Also, there are not many good spots, so they get overcrowded, and flyers get unfriendly to other flyers. They were amazed by the big lift at the South Downs, and the amount of empty space without crowds of flyers. Last time I saw them, they struck drizzly windless weather, maybe that put them off coming back.

There are quite a few separate groups of German people who visit our hallowed Downs - I've met at least 3 different groups. Some of their building skills are totally awesome - scratch built fully moulded Scale and F3F gliders!

There are quite a few separate groups of German people who visit our hallowed Downs - I've met at least 3 different groups. Some of their building skills are totally awesome - scratch built fully moulded Scale and F3F gliders!